The Spacelab D2 mission (STS-55), utilising the American space shuttle Columbia, is due to be launched on April 26th, 1993. This documentary gives an overview of the preparation for the D2 project and, although some details are technical, it is suitable for a general audience. 16 of the 90 or so scheduled experiments have originated from DLR (the German Aerospace Research Establishment). The film details some of the in-flight research to be performed.
Sequences are arranged as follows:
-the 1985 D1 mission, photographs of the Earth;
-PROJECT MANAGEMENT- preparation of experiments, the space operations centre, contruction of hardware;
-ASTRONAUTS: profiles of the nine astronauts (including backup) taking part in the mission. ESA astronauts involved were Schlegel and Walter;
-TRAINING: DLR microgravity simulation, astronaut training, diving, parabolic flights, experiment instruction and training, cycling respirometer experiment;
-EXPERIMENTS: in-flight footage, fluid globules in microgravity, weightless crew